If you like offense, then this was not the game for you. The two teams combined for just 594 yards of offense and only two offensive touchdowns as the #11 Florida Gators defeated SEC East rival Missouri 21-3, snapping a two game losing streak to the Tigers.

At the start of the game, both offenses were clicking. Florida took their first drive 75 yards down the field and scored a touchdown to grab a quick 7-0 lead. Immediately, the Tigers responded with a good drive of 62 yards, which resulted in a field goal.

After the two teams traded punts, the Gators went down and scored again as Kelvin Taylor, son of former Gator and famous Jacksonville Jaguar running back Fred Taylor, ran in from a yard out for his second touchdown of the game.

Yet after that, yards were very hard to come by and points even harder.

The only scoring in the second half was on a pick six by Jalen Tabor, who returned an ill-advised Lock pass 40 yards for a touchdown.

Both defensive fronts played lights out for the rest of the game. Charles Harris and Walter Brady both played well for the Missouri, leading a defense that recorded five sacks, each from a different player. But Florida’s defensive front was up to the task as they racked up three sacks and constantly hurried Missouri quarterback Drew Lock and forced him to hurry his throws and not get comfortable in the pocket.

In addition, It was not a good night for kickers either. Florida’s Jorge Powell missed his only attempt of the night from 36 yards while Missouri’s Andrew Baggett was 1-2, making from 21 and missing from 53.

Lock really struggled as he was under pressure all night, completing just 16 of his 39 passes for 151 yards. Surprisingly, the Tigers actually had a good running game going in this one as they rushed for over four yards per carry, led by Russell Hansbrough with 74 yards on nine carries (an average over eight yards per rush) while the Gators averaged under three yards per.

The Missouri offense converted just one third down the entire game, while Florida's offense converted 7 of 18, just a tad under 40%. It was a big reason why the Gators dominated time of possession, holding the ball for 37:53.

Missouri embarrassed the Gators in Gainesville last year on their homecoming, and suffice it to say Florida returned the favor to the Tigers this year.

With this win, Florida has set the table for themselves in the SEC East. So far they have defeated Tennessee, Kentucky and Missouri this season. Although they face their toughest game of the year next week as they take on the LSU Tigers in Baton Rouge, the closest team to them right now is the Kentucky Wildcats, whom they have already beaten. Therefore, it’s like they have a game and a half advantage on the Wildcats. The Gators will also face the Georgia Bulldogs in the World’s Largest Cocktail Party later in the year, and that should be a very tough game, even if the Dawgs have to play without star tailback Nick Chubb. As of now, a win in that game would essentially lock up the SEC East, because after they will face Vanderbilt and South Carolina before finishing the season with non-conference games against Florida Atlantic and Florida State.

For the Tigers, their once potent offense has now become one of the worst in the SEC. They need to find answers quickly, and a lot of them will center around the quarterback position. Is Lock the guy going forward or will it be Maty Mauk? That and how to get the offensive line playing well will need to be answered as the Tigers enter the second half of the season. 

VAVEL Logo
About the author
Josh McSwain
Texas born and raised, but I bleed black and gold--Mizzou forever. Just a small town boy looking to take the midnight train. Football is my favorite sport but my favorite sporting event is the Stanley Cup Playoffs.